New Delhi, May 11: Age is just a number in the world of sports. What truly matters is passion. Saurabh Chaudhary, India’s star shooter, exemplifies this notion. At just 16 years old, he made history by clinching a gold medal at the Asian Games.
Saurabh became the youngest shooter to win a gold medal for India at the Asian Games. Born in Kalina village, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, he developed an interest in shooting while in the fourth grade. He expressed his desire to pursue this sport to his father. A farmer by profession, Saurabh’s father, Jagmohan, recognized his son’s passion and decided to support his training.
To help Saurabh acquire a pistol, his father sought financial assistance from relatives and friends. This enabled Saurabh to grasp the nuances of the sport quickly. He enrolled at the Veer Sahamal Rifle Club in Binoli, Baghpat, where he began training under coach Amit Shyoran. Saurabh dedicated himself to the sport, often leaving his village at 7 AM to reach the academy, practicing for 8 to 9 hours daily.
The year 2018 was pivotal for Saurabh’s career. At the Asian Games in Jakarta, he delivered an outstanding performance, securing a gold medal at the age of 16. This achievement made him the youngest Indian shooter to reach such a milestone. In 2019, he set a world record in the 10-meter air pistol junior category with a score of 246.3. From 2019 to 2022, Saurabh impressed everyone at the ISSF World Championships, winning multiple gold medals in both individual and mixed team events.
After a three-year hiatus, Saurabh returned to competition in 2025, winning a bronze medal in the individual event at the World Cup and a gold medal in the mixed team event alongside Suruchit Singh. Earlier in 2025, he set a new national record during the national selection trials with a score of 591, surpassing his previous score of 589.
Saurabh is the only Indian shooter to have won gold medals at the ISSF World Championship, World Cup, Asian Games, Asian Air Gun Championship, and Youth Olympics. In 2026, he secured a gold medal in the men’s 50-meter pistol event at the Asian Championship. He was also honored with the Arjuna Award in 2020.
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